Powerful Praise

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2 NASB

What trials are you facing today? Have you thanked the Lord for them? James admonishes us to consider it all joy when trials and hardships come along. Something from this passage of Scripture that leaped squarely off the page into my focus, and rested on my heart was the word when. James doesn't say if-he says when. Dear friend, trials will come. If you haven't encountered them yet then God bless you, however they will undoubtedly come to us all in one form or another. Likewise, for those of us who have and are encountering them now, how are we handling them?

Acknowledging His sovereignty over our lives and laying it all down before Him, that is the greatest gift we can give Him. Tough times are around us everywhere. I don't think I know of anyone who is not encountering some kind of trial at this time. Each one is very different. Each person deals with their "stuff" differently. However, don't judge a book by its cover. Realize that some are more private than others and do not want to share it. Yet, for the most part, we all struggle or have challenges of some kind.

Can you praise Him anyway? Can you lift your hands, right now wherever you are and thank God for all the things in your life, good and bad? Will you trust Him to "never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) and to be with you wherever you go? Relying on Him and going through trials will test our faith and produce endurance.

Here we have another promise. When our faith is tested it produces endurance. In order to run a marathon, we must have endurance. Like a marathon, this life on earth we have been given to live takes endurance. It is riddled with times of testing. How we go through it is what matters. Are we going to allow it to make us bitter or better? The choice is one each of us make, each and every time we come up against some kind of trial.

Let's commit to raising our hands and falling on our knees praising God through the storm, until we see the sun break through. He loves you so much. He knows every part of you, even to the hairs on your head. Trust Him. Have faith in Him. Give Him all of you.

Dear heavenly and gracious Father,
Lord, thank You for Your promises. Thank You for always being with me and guiding me through every day. Help me to trust in You more and more each day. I pray for Your guidance, wisdom and discernment as I face trials. Help me Lord, to look to You, lean on Your Word, and praise You in the midst of all that happens.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Spiritual Checkup

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV


Have you taken the time lately to analyze your relationship with Jesus? Whether or not you have, there is no time like the present to get alone with the Lord and your Bible, prayerfully reading the Scriptures to examine yourself. We have the wonderful privilege of a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe, thanks to Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation at the cross.

On a scale of 1-10, how important is that relationship—one being not important at all, ten being the most important relationship in your life? We have promise upon promise to hold on to, with words of encouragement for the darkest of days. Joy and peace {just to name two} are gifts waiting for us; ready to be opened.

It amazes me how we can become so absorbed in family, life, church work, volunteering, our jobs and hobbies leaving our relationship with Him until last. Our focus can be shifted so He comes first then the rest comes after. The better we know Him, the more trust and faith we will have in Him.

Bad things sometimes happen in our lives and we want someone to blame. Sometimes we blame God. Yet, when bad things do happen, we are given an opportunity to ask God what He wants us to learn from that particular trial. Growth is never easy. Just ask a teenage whose legs are aching from the growth in their bones. We have a Savior who is with us always and who loves us with a love that is greater than we can begin to understand. That is the hope we have in Him.

Isn’t it exciting to know He cares? He loves you beyond your wildest dreams dear one. Let the truth of the Scripture soak into your soul and may you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let's pray together,
Heavenly Father, thank you Lord, for Your amazing grace that meets us fresh and new each and every morning. May we not take it for granted, not even for one minute. Lord, speak to us through the powerful Words of the Bible. We long to know You more. Help us to know You better and to trust You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessed Understanding

"The unfolding of Your words gives light;

It gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130 NASB

If you had an electrical problem in your house, you would probably call an electrician.

A problem with your car would find you seeking the advice of a mechanic.

When you are experiencing trouble or pain, fall to your knees and seek the One who loves you and knows you better than anyone. Jesus Christ died and shed His blood so we could have an intimate, personal

relationship with God Almighty. Don't allow anything to come between you and your Lord.

In addition to prayer, seek the guidance of the Bible. The Bible is our guide book for living.

 It has what we need to know. It teaches us how to live.

The Word of God is truth. Psalm 119:60

The Word of God is light. Psalm 119:105

The Word of God is alive and able to break through barriers. Hebrews 4:12

Not one of us is able to know all things. No one except the Lord Himself. Yet, reading God's Word

-The Bible-

will open our understanding to the Truth. The prayerful daily practice of Bible reading will teach us, strengthening our relationship with the One True God and our Lord Jesus Christ. As we listen to the Holy Spirit teach, we can develop discernment and wisdom that will enable us to hear His voice and give us the courage to follow His will for our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this day. Thank you for Your promise to never leave nor forsake us. Thank You Lord for Your Word that reveals truth to us. We need Your touch and Your wisdom Lord. Pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may experience the Word of God with fresh eyes and a fresh understanding. Reveal the truths to us as You know we are ready for them. Lord, we pray for a blessed understanding of Your Word. Give us the courage and boldness to walk in Your Truth. In Jesus name, Amen.

I would like to challenge you to take time each day for the next 40 days to read from your Bible. Don't just read it to say you've done it, but pray and ask God to reveal what His Word is saying, and ask Him to direct you to apply it to your life. Some days you may read a verse or two. Other days, you may read a chapter or maybe more. How much you read is not important. Learning from and applying the Scriptures to your life is the goal of this challenge. If you miss a day, don't fret or give up. Remember, tomorrow is a new day and keep on going. He wants to spend time with you. Why not start right now? He's waiting for you!

The Promise of Eternal Life

If you knew your life would be over tomorrow, what would become important to you in that moment? Would you consider what you did not have or would you wonder if your family and friends knew how much you truly loved and cherished them? Would you thirst for more stuff or would you be content with what your life was? Would you think about eternity and what that really means? Are you ready to meet Jesus face to face and answer the questions, "What have you done with the gifts I have given you? What did you do for Me?"

Revelation reveals the end of the earth as we know it and the beginning of the beauty of God's promise of eternity with Him. Revelation 22:12 says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." {NKJV}

This is not just a nice story but reality for everyone. Everyone who chooses Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. John 3:16 reveals the promise, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." {NKJV}


Did you notice the word "whoever" in the above Scripture? There is a choice each one must make. You either choose the Lord Jesus as your Saviour or you don't. Choosing Jesus bridges the great gap that separates us from God the Father. There is but one path to Him, the path that calls us to put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was watching a commercial about a new show that will discuss if we can live forever. My response was, "Yes of course you can, if you have Jesus in your life." It is exciting to think that life does not end when we die. Our life here with our friends and families may cease to exist, yet we have a home in heaven, with Jesus and the Father. There we will live eternally, without the stress or hurts of this life.

Have you made the choice that leads to life? If not, take some time and learn about Jesus and the promises He has made. Get a Bible and start reading it if you haven't already. Find a Bible teaching church that stresses Biblical truths and begin to pray, seeking God and His will. Give your heart and life to the Lord and may we meet one day in eternity.

With blessings,
Natalie

Overcoming Temptation

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

What a promise! Do you hear God's voice speaking to you through this passage of Scripture, recorded so long ago? We serve the same God today as He was yesterday, and so He will be tomorrow. That excites me and I hope it excites you too!!

Have you ever been tempted and fallen, knowing it was wrong? If so, you are not alone. However, this is not a pattern we need to continue falling into. We can pray and God can heal and cleanse us from our faults and sins. We have hope in overcoming temptations. This passage is our promise from our eternal, loving Father who wants more and better for us than we can begin to imagine.

Realize that temptation is not sin. Acting on the temptation is the sinful behaviour. Remember God's promise to always provide a way out. Will it always be easy to see and follow through? No, maybe not, but we will always have a choice. Sometimes in the midst of temptation, our emotions and feelings cloud our judgement and thoughts. It is then we need to call on the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to make the truth clear and audible. When we know the truth - that there is a way out - it is easier to find it if we will take the time to listen to the voice and nudgings of the Spirit in our hearts.

If you are struggling with temptation, take the time to memorize this Scripture verse. Write it down, put it in your phone, put it on your desktop, mirror, the dash of your car, your refrigerator. Put it in front of you, over and over until it is rooted deeply in your heart and mind. Trust in the Word of God to be your anchor in the storm. Cry out to Him when you feel the temptation coming on. Allow Him to fill the spaces in your heart and longings. He is there. His presence is what we are all searching for.

Let's pray together:

Dear glorious and gracious Father,
Thank you for Your promises that draw us nearer to You. Thank You for Your presence, for Jesus Your Son, and for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Lord forgive us when we fall. Forgive us for giving into our temptations. Lord, come fill us with Your presence and cleanse us of the sinfulness we fall into. Lord, we pray for Your strength to overcome temptation. We pray for Your wisdom and discernment to see the way out You will provide. Father, help us to be more like Jesus, trusting completely in Your will for our lives. We love You and wait expectantly, In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

By HIS Spirit

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." These words are recorded in the book of Zechariah chapter 4 verse 6. I have been getting back into the routine of things just like everyone else out there. Summer comes and there are more things to do. Expectations run high and we all want to get in as much as is humanly possible. For some of us the weather didn't cooperate as much as we would have liked but fall is coming in just a few short days anyway. In the comfort and familiarity of routine, I have been struggling with wondering if I am doing enough. As a person who feels the need to be productive, that always seems to be the question.

It amazed me how God spoke to me. Feeling this way and spending time in prayer with Him, these are the words He quietly spoke to me. I knew I had heard them or seen them before, but I wasn't sure where. I wondered if maybe it was on a flyer or written in a Christian Living book I had read. I needed to know so I went to the Source and pulled out my Bible. I found it in Zechariah. Though in the Scriptures, God did not say, "Natalie, not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," I know I can claim this promise as can anyone who claims Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

What a wonderful peace we have, resting in His Word and His promises. We have available to us, the inspired Word of God, true and reliable. This promise, along with so many others, gives me strength when I'm not sure which way to go. There are times we can get so busy working for the Lord, we forget to spend time with the Lord. This verse reminded me there is nothing I can do to earn my salvation. Jesus did that at the cross. When I am unsure or when you are unsure, the best thing for us to do is reach out in prayer, read the Word of God-the Bible-and trust, having faith that He is and always will be. The more time we spend with Him, the better we will know Him, the better line of communication we will have and we will be able to hear from Him when we are doubting and unsure.

Let's pray together:

Heavenly and gracious Father,
Thank You Lord for who You are. Thank You for Your Spirit, Your power and Your might. Lord, forgive us when we struggle or think the things we do will draw us nearer to You. Lord, help us to spend more time in Your presence, drawing nearer to You and having an open and clear line of communication. Thank You for Your Son Jesus, whose shed blood on the cross has cleansed us from sin. Thank You for eternal life and the Spirit that dwells within us. May we learn to lean on You, trusting You to know the answers for our lives and the direction we need to go. May our eyes remain focused on heaven and an eternity in Your presence. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

A Promise for Your Family

School time is here! I have spent this week back into the routine of home schooling our three daughters. They are now in grades 9, 7 and 5! I can hardly believe it. How quickly one year passes and another begins. One thing I rest in as each year passes and my precious babies grow and mature into young women are the promises God has revealed through the Holy Scriptures.


Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” I love the promise of this Scripture. However, did you catch the whole and complete meaning behind it? Do you see the responsibility He has entrusted you with? In the very beginning of the promise God reveals to parents that it is our job to “train our children in the way they should go”.

How do we train them? We can begin training them to look to the Lord for all of their needs. Study the Word of God together, pray with your children, thank Him for the food before you each day, praise Him for the weather (even the rain and snow), when you go out into the world remind them that God created it all. If your children go to public or private school, remind them that God gave the inventors and scientists, mathematicians, politicians and teachers the ability and skill to do their jobs. In everything we do, everything we see, everything around us, God’s fingerprints are all over it. Isn’t that exciting? He made it all. He deserves all the glory, honour and praise.

When our jobs are done and we have trained our children, we can confidently cling to the promise our children will not depart from His truth. They may stumble, they may fall, but remember, they too are human. Yet, if you have raised them in the knowledge and admonishment of the Lord you have His Word. To further study how we can train our children I suggest you prayerfully study Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Take the time and make the effort to apply these verses to your family life. God loves you so much. He wants to be the focal point and the cornerstone for your family. Will you invite Him in and train your family for all eternity?